Space Ghost Coast to Coast

[Majikthise]

The perfect episode for anyone who's ever had their heart broken, it's no wonder Cartoon Network chose to premiere "Lovesick" on February 14, 1996. It's also the perfect episode for anyone who wants to see Carrot Top get dissed and dissed hard. And it's the perfect episode for anyone who wants to see a superhero, a bug and a beekeeper (a beekeeper!) get dressed down by an angry cow. In short, "Lovesick" is the perfect episode.

This is also the first episode in which Moltar mentions his beautiful wife Linda (to whom he's been married for over six years), which earns him a blast from Space Ghost's destructo ray. (Zorak claims this is the first time Space Ghost has blasted Moltar, but it's actually the second. The first time was back in "Elevator" when Moltar laughed about not turning on Timothy Leary's microphone. It is, however, the first time we get to see Moltar charred to a crisp afterward.) The writers never really went into Moltar's married life on the show (in fact, Linda's only brought up in two other episodes), so I've often wondered how they met, what their wedding was like and whether they ever had lavaspawn. And how exactly does Moltar's race perpetuate itself? (It's entirely possible that I've thought about this too much.)

The other unseen female who's brought up for the first time in this episode (and then never mentioned again) is Space Ghost's ex-girlfriend (and one true love) Miss Nesbitt. I've gotta side with the cow on this one. I can't imagine what she ever saw in Space Ghost to begin with. Oh, yes. And a cape would look like crap in space.

This episode can be found on: Volume Two

[Silvolf]

Lol I love how Space Ghost was mocked in that episode!

And don't worry about thinking too much. I think too much about such things with Zorak. And possibly draw them.

[ZorakTheEvilLocust]

We've seen your drawings...then again, who hasn't on this board?

[Silvolf]

Probably most people on the SGC2C board. Luckily you haven't seen the worst of them. No one ever will and no one would want to lol.

[ZorakTheEvilLocust]

I can imagine

[Silvolf]

[Majikthise]

On February 20, 1995, "President's Day Nightmare," which was written by Matt Maiellaro very much under the gun, premiered. No matter how much they tried to paper over it, it definitely comes across like the rush job it apparently was. (Suffice it to say, I'm not surprised this turned out to be the one and only World Premiere Toon In hosted by Space Ghost.) It did have at least one good running gag: Space Ghost's inability to say Genndy Tartakovsky's name right. (He calls him Comrade Ginsu and Comrade Gingersnap. Hmm, does two times count as a "running" gag?) And it brought Don Kennedy back into the fold, just not as Tansut. Which is funny because he'd already done the voice for "A Space Ghost Christmas." I guess they wanted him as the announcer more. And finally, this episode introduced Metallus's droning, metallic voice, which would be married to him for the rest of the show's run. Now there's a character who's easy to write dialogue for.

This episode can be found in a number of disparate places. First, there's a version on Volume Three from which all of the cartoon clips have been excised, leaving time for more interactions between Space Ghost and the Council of Doom. Then there's the variation that's on The Powerpuff Girls: The Complete First Season, which also features the raw Craig McCracken interview. And it can also be found on the Build Your Custom DVD feature, which is presumably the broadcast version with the cartoon clips intact since it matches the running time of the version I taped off Adult Swim some years back.

[ZorakTheEvilLocust]

I haven't seen President's Nightmare in so long I doubt I'm aloud to have an opinion on it.

[Majikthise]

Between the inexplicable and the explicable lies Space Ghost Coast to Coast, and an episode like "Transcript," which premiered on February 23, 1996, leans more toward the inexplicable side of the equation. I wish the raw interview had been included on the DVD just so I could confirm how much of it was used verbatim, but it's easy to imagine George Lowe and Jonathan Richman having exactly this conversation. "Dan Fogelberg write that one for you?" "No, I made it up."

Of course, apart from the opening in the commissary and a few asides during the show ("Moltar, is it time for a break yet?" "Uh, no."), Moltar and Zorak don't have a lot to do this time out, but they're still plenty funny. ("Well, yeah, he used to sing... on CHiPs.") And my favorite throwaway bit is the quick shot of Moltar reading Ulysses and saying, "That's major." That reminds me, one of these days I need to sit down and read Ulysses. I'm tired of standing all the time.

This episode can be found on: Volume Two

[ZorakTheEvilLocust]

I've hardly seen Transcript. I saw it twice and once was recently, on volume two, but I was bored by it.

[Silvolf]

The lack of Zorak and Moltar depresses me.

[Majikthise]

On March 1, 1996, the episode "Sharrock" aired for the first time. Named after Sonny Sharrock, it's a fitting tribute to a singular musical genius and very respectful to boot. Space Ghost doesn't even blast Zorak once, although he does get on his case about getting off his lazy butt and finding a part-time job. I'm with Zorak, though. I wouldn't want to work at no lumber yard, either.

This episode can be found on: Volume Two

[Silvolf]

I'm always with Zorak lol!

[Majikthise]

Course you are, dear.

[RoshiBlues]

Psycho Hose Beast

[Majikthise]

I beg your pardon?

[RoshiBlues]

its a warning to bros if you see one

[Majikthise]

I'll be on the lookout.

[puffelufigus]

---

itsacoaster wrote:

You're right, I am in need of a margarita.  Good call.

More questions:  Has anybody thought about what Moltar's home life might be like?  His wife is Linda and his brother-in-law is Zoltran.  Who wants to write the fanfiction?

---

i think that it would be somthing of a soviet era breadline survivor's club.

[puffelufigus]

i want to know more about how zorak was "kickin it" in hattesburg .

[Silvolf]

Me too!

[AquaTeenPatrolSquad]

Thats so boss.  Zorak has to have a fan club why couldn't I have conceived of this before.

[Majikthise]

In the history of Space Ghost Coast to Coast, the episode "Boo!" -- which premiered on March 8, 1996 -- stands as of its most straightforward interview-centric 15 minutes. A lot of that probably has to do with the way the main guest, ghost expert Michael Norman, very quickly turns the tables and starts asking Space Ghost probing questions that he doesn't immediately have answers for. (When asked how he died, SG eventually blurts out that it was a farming accident. "We were farming. Things got out of hand.") There isn't even a cold opening, and SG very quickly dispenses with the band intro to get Norman out as quickly as possible, presumably because he wants the author to write a book on him. Accordingly, the cutaways to Zorak and Moltar are kept to a minimum, and there's barely a minute left over at the end for second guest Bill Nye, who helps SG get the last word after he gets fed up and blasts Norman off the screen. (I do like Moltar's Mr. Ed impression when the show comes back from the break, though. "Willlllllbur!") All in all, a most satisfying outing for the Ghost Planet crew.

This episode can be found on: Volume Two

[AquaTeenPatrolSquad]

Haha ghost experts are such hacks.

But Bill Nigh is the man.

[Silvolf]

Zorak's too awesome not to have a fan club!